A repurposed small bus with all windows tinted, this was the best the friends of Luoshan Zi could bring. It was not that they did not have anything fancier, but it was that a bus was the only option they had to transport this many people without increasing the risk of raising suspicion and getting checked by the coppers.
Ming, the old man with a walking stick in his hand and a limp in his left leg, was sitting in the passenger seat, watching the road ahead along with the driver.
Keying, a one-eyed old man who wielded a giant Dao, was sitting by the door, resting with his only functional eye closed.
Ruo, an old woman with two whips wrapped around her waist and left shoulder, was sitting on the other side of Keying, with Liao, her and Ruo’s pupil, sitting behind her and listening to her caution and advice before they would head out to battle.
Sue, Turner Ouyang and Luoshan Zi sat together in the back, one row away from the masters to give them some privacy. Turner Ouyang seemed extra nervous, his gaze sometimes lingered on Sue’s face, sometimes shifted to outside of the window. He wanted to say something, but he just could not get the courage to. It probably did not help that he just endured a pretty serious beating earlier, when many of his bruises were still tender.
“Sue - I - ” After a while, Turner Ouyang finally raised his trembling voice: “There’s something I want to tell you. And I don’t - I don’t wanna wait till all of this is over - ”
“Turner, I know.” Sue smiled and grabbed the young man’s hand: “But - let’s have a chat AFTER this, shall we? ”
“But - I - ”
“Just stay alive, and you’ll get all the chance to say it when we’re done, alright?” Sue held Turner Ouyang’s hand tighter, but still shook her head: “Please.”
“Ah, youth.” Luoshan Zi chuckled: “I remember being in this situation once. And I remember being in Gloria’s shoes as well. You kids just make me want to feel young again.”
“Sorry - sorry about that, Luoshan.” Sue shook her head, but still holding Turner Ouyang’s hand: “It’s just - ”
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“No matter, no matter.” Luoshan Zi waved her hand, smiling gently: “It’s good. It’s good. You’re supposed to have something waiting for you after all the fighting’s done. So, don’t mind me. It’s just one of those old people things, we like to reminisce about the past.”
Sue hesitated for a moment before asking: “What - what happened? If I may ask - Because I heard about you and how you taught Gloria everything from her, but I - I just didn’t know - ”
“It’s okay. It’s nothing to be secretive about. And since we’re doing THIS, it might as well come out.” Luoshan Zi sighed with a wry smile: “His name - well, I don’t even know his real name. But I just called him ‘Senior Deng’ at first. He’s somewhat of a - a nerd, a scholar, a young man of texts, scriptures and knowledge. Due to some - some academic adventures of his, our paths crossed. And we ended up working together for a while - I was born and raised in the South-Eastern District, he’s moved between the Northern and South-Western Districts, so while we had a lot of common interests, we still had a lot of things to learn from each other.”
“That sounds perfect - what happened?” Sue asked.
“Well, sometimes life just happens without a reason, doesn’t it?” Luoshan Zi shook her head, sighing and smiling: “We have grown very close, and closer with each day. But somehow, one day he just disappeared without saying anything. I tried searching for him, calling his number, calling the place he worked - nothing worked. He just disappeared without a trace.”
“What the - how could it happen?” Ouyang Turner frowned.
“I don’t know.” Luoshan Zi looked out the window: “All I know is that - back then it was a really tumultuous time, not just politically, but also in the streets - not very long after that the fight between the city and the South-Eastern District happened. I was unfortunately tied up for a while because of my connections to him. And down the years, I tried a few times, but still could not find him. Finally it seemed the only explanation for it is he’s either dead, or he’s no longer in the city.”
“... I’m so sorry.” Ouyang Turner sighed.
“It’s fine. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be.” Luoshan Zi chuckled.
“We’re almost there!” Ming turned back and announced: “Everyone, get ready!”
The bus slowed when it turned right at a fork. The road was uneven and rough, the wheels and hinges would not stop creaking.
“Alright, everyone, ready? We’re about to turn on the disguise.” Ming asked again.
“Yes.” Ouyang Turner let out a long exhale.
“We’re ready. Do it.” Luoshan Zi shook her head.
“Let me find a good spot.” The driver turned back and looked everyone in the eyes: “After that. Good luck everyone. I genuinely hope you succeed.”
“I do as well.” Keying stretched and walked up to the back of the bus: “Let’s hope so.”
After landing in a spot with a small hill as a backdrop, some mechanisms on the side of the bus extended out, dragging some canvas drapes along, making some shades that were unnecessary for now. The driver walked around the bus with two lawn chairs and placed it at the end of the vehicle. Music began playing in the bus - not too loud, but enough to let anyone who cared enough to listen know it was relaxing music. A fake telescope was placed on top of the bus. According to the research of Luoshan Zi’s old contacts, stargazing was indeed something people of the Northern District living close to this area would do in places around here. Since the vehicle would more likely to be discovered anyway, even though this was not the best disguise, it should still buy them some time.
“Alright, go.” Ming opened the side door facing the hill and signaled everyone.
Everyone was wearing black. They exited the door in a row following Ming’s lead, and disappeared in the night while their driver sat on one of the lawn chairs with a drink in hand.